Gordon's 2-run shot leads Royals over Rangers 4-1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The last time Jason Vargas pitched against the Texas Rangers, it seemed like every runner that reached scoring position somehow managed to cross home plate.

The exact opposite happened Wednesday night.

Vargas pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning, Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer and the Kansas City Royals held on for a 4-1 victory that finished off a three-game sweep.

"I felt I was effective," Vargas said. "They had some opportunities and we were able to make some plays and get out of them."

Vargas (11-7) stranded four runners in scoring position before turning over a two-on, two-out mess to Kelvin Herrera, who escaped the jam. Louis Coleman gave up a run in the eighth before Wade Davis finished off the inning, and Greg Holland worked a perfect ninth for his 42nd save.

The victory along with Detroit's 7-0 loss to Cleveland allowed the Royals to extend their lead to 1 1/2 games over the Tigers in the AL Central. They are off Thursday before a crucial trip that takes them through the wild card-chasing Yankees and into a three-game set in Detroit.

"I guess momentum is nice," Royals manager Ned Yost said, "but I don't believe in that stuff too much. You know we have to go play good baseball. We have to do what we do."

Nick Tepesch (4-9) allowed all four runs over 6 2/3 innings for Texas.

The Royals grabbed the lead off him in the fourth when Omar Infante led off with a single and Gordon homered to deep center. In the seventh, Salvador Perez and Billy Butler doubled to provide a bit of cushion, and pinch runner Terrance Gore scored on a stolen base and a throwing error.

That was more than enough to doom Texas to its fifth straight loss.

The biggest problem for the injury plagued Rangers lately has been situational hitting, and it manifested itself again in three close losses to Kansas City. They were 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position Wednesday night, making them 3 for 28 over the course of the series.

The sweep of Texas was the first at home for the Royals in seven seasons.

Tepesch, who grew up in nearby Blue Springs, Missouri, kept giving the Rangers a chance. He retired his first eight batters and then bounced back from Gordon's homer to retire eight of nine.

Vargas proved to be just a little bit better.

The veteran left-hander, winless in his last six starts against Texas left runners on the corners in the first inning, and somehow navigated leadoff doubles in the third, fourth and sixth.

"We put ourselves in position," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "It wasn't just one part of the lineup. It was up and down. It was almost everybody had an opportunity."

By the time Vargas trudged off the mound on a humid night at Kauffman Stadium, a small but festive crowd of 15,771 had risen to its feet to give him a parting ovation.

"He pitched great," Yost said. "He was sharp tonight. Had his good command, spotted his fastball well. His changeup was really working for him. He just pitched a good game."

ROYALS C-RISP-Y

While the Rangers had all kinds of problems with runners in scoring position, the Royals were a bit better -- 1 for 4. They only left one on base, the fewest they've stranded since June 21.

BIG HOME RUNS

Gordon has hit 19 homers this season, 10 of which have given the Royals the lead. "I just think Alex Gordon is a phenomenal player," Yost said. "He's an MVP in book."

BELTRE IN BEAST MODE

Adrian Beltre went 1 for 4, extending his hit streak to 20 games against Kansas City. Ivan Rodriguez holds the club record with a hit in 23 straight games against the Royals.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rangers: RHP Scott Baker has been scratched from his start Thursday against Seattle with a stiff neck. Washington hopes he'll be able to go Friday. ... RHP Yu Darvish (elbow inflammation) will be examined Thursday in Texas. It remains unlikely he'll return his season.

Royals: INF Christian Colon broke the middle finger of his right hand Tuesday night. Yost said he could still be called upon to bunt or pinch run.

UP NEXT

Rangers: LHP Robbie Ross (2-5, 5.63) will move up one day to start in Baker's place. Ross tossed five shutout innings against Houston his last time out.

Royals: RHP James Shields (12-7) starts the Royals' series opener in the Bronx.

Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press

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KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 3: Jason Vargas #51 of the Kansas City Royals throws against the Texas Rangers in the...